Skin prickers

Details Skin prickers Skin prickers

1999-02-22

2000-11-21

O'Connor, Cary

Surgery

Diagnostic testing

Liquid collection

600583, 604110, 606181, A61B 500

Patent

active

061496081

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is the 35 USC 371 National Stage of International application PCT/GB98/01636 filed on Jun. 19, 1998, which designated the United States of America.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to skin prickers for drawing small drops of blood for analysis. These have been developed so that they are cheap enough not only for the lancet whose tip penetrates skin to be thrown away after a single use, but also for the whole device which contains and fires the lancet to be discarded. Such wastage is justifiable in that it eliminates the risk of infection, sometimes fatal, from used lancets.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

These throw-away devices automatically retract the lancet after the tip has momentarily projected, and they are designed so that it is virtually impossible to get at the lancet after such use. However, such an objective is not always achieved, and by using a tool, for example, it is sometimes possible to reset the lancet.
Another problem facing the designer of such a device is to make it as simple as possible, with the minimum number of parts to manufacture and assemble. If the device is to be thrown away after a single use, anything too complex is costly and unacceptable.


OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is the aim of this invention to provide a skin pricker which is a "throwaway" after a single use, which is of very simple construction, and which, short of destruction, does make it virtually impossible to have access to the lancet after use.
In our International Patent Application No. PCT/GB98/01237 we have proposed a skin pricking device which should fulfil these requirements. It comprises a barrel containing a spring loaded lancet releasable from a primed rearward position momentarily to project its tip from the forward end of the barrel and then retract it, wherein the priming and release means for the lancet are combined in an element projecting laterally from the lancet through a longitudinal slot in the barrel, the element having a weakness enabling it to be broken off having been shifted to a catch formation retaining it at the rear end of the slot, the breaking off releasing the lancet.
We now have a further proposal, making the device even simpler to use by eliminating the priming step.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a skin pricker comprising a lancet spring loaded in such a manner as to be releasable from a primed rearward position so as momentarily to project its tip from the forward end of the barrel and then retract it, wherein the lancet is formed integrally with a trigger that projects outwardly through an aperture in the forward end of the barrel, there being a shearable bridge within the barrel between the trigger and the lancet, and wherein, in manufacture, the barrel is closed around the lancet to form the aperture and capture the trigger, which keeps the spring means primed, the actuation of the trigger shearing the bridge and releasing the lancet.
Preferably, the aperture and trigger are so formed that, after shearing away from the lancet, the trigger remains captive to the barrel.
Conveniently, the trigger is designed to be actuated so as to pivot its externally projecting end towards the forward end of the barrel. The wall of the aperture on which the trigger bears provides a fulcrum and the leverage that is thereby achieved makes shearing of the bridge (which will be very close to the fulcrum) quite easy.
Preferably, the lancet tip is shielded by a cap which has an exposed end forward of the barrel. When the user is ready, this can be twisted off, shearing a narrow neck at the root of the needle tip. The cap maintains the sterility of the needle before use and it provides a guard should the trigger be accidentally sheared off and the lancet fired.
Conveniently, the barrel is made in two generally semi-cylindrical halves, which may be integrally moulded, and which are folded together to join in a diametral plane.
Advantageously the barrel may incorporate at least

REFERENCES:
patent: 5423847 (1995-06-01), Strong et al.
patent: 5558651 (1996-09-01), Crawford et al.
patent: 5702369 (1997-12-01), Mercereau

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Skin prickers does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Skin prickers, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Skin prickers will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1252785